John j



J. J. GORMAN.

Privy-Seat.

Patented Dec. 30, I879.

-LITHOGRAPNER. WASHINGTON D C.

IINITED STATES PATENT OEErcE.

JOHN J. GORMAN, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

IMPROVEMENT IN PRlVY-SEATS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 223,131, dated December30, 1879 application filed October 2, 1879.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN J. GORMAN, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, haveinvented a new and useful Improvement in Privy-Seats, of which thefollowing is a specification.

The object of my invention is to so combine the hinged lid of aprivy-seat with a casing or frame and a self-closing valve that theescape of noxious gases from the cess-pool when the seat is not occupiedwill be prevented; and this object I attain in the manner which I willnow proceed to describe, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings, in which- Figure 1 is a view of my improved privyseat when notin use; Fig. 2, the same as it appears when occupied Fig. 3, atransverse section on the line 1 2, Fig. 2 5 and Fig. 4., a rear view,partly in section, of Fig. 1.

A represents a casing or frame, which may be fitted to the inside of ormay take the place of the ordinary privy-seat frame.

A bar, a, is adapted to lugs b at the rear of the casing, and to lugs d,formed on a bent plate, B, one portion, 0, of which is secured to theunder side of a valve, D, the other portion, 0, of the plate carrying aweight, F.

J is a lid, having the usual opening 15, and hinged at the rear edge toa transverse bar, m, carried by bars g, which project rearwardly fromthe casing A. From the under side of this lid J project two curved arms,n, the lower ends of which bear upon metal plates secured to the upperface of the valve D.

When the privyseat is not occupied the weight F causes the closing ofthe valve D tightly against the inclined seat 20, formed by the loweredge of the casing A, the hinged lid J being thereby elevated, as shownin Fig. 1, but the escape of noxious vapors or gases from the cessqooolbeing prevented by the valve.

When a person occupies the privy-seat the lid J is depressed, thereby,through the medium of the arms, causing the valve to move downward andbackward until it occupiesthe position shown in Fig. 2, or a positioninclined rearwardly in respect thereto, and is thus entirely out of theway.

When the occupant of the seat rises the weight F causes the restorationof the valve D to its former position, as shown in Fig. 1, and theconsequent elevation of the lid- J. p The casing A and valve D may bemade of wood or metal, or a wooden casing may be lined and a woodenvalve faced with sheet metal or like material.

The counterbalance-weight is preferred in place of a spring, owing tothe tendency of the spring to become corroded and useless by the actionof the gases and acids to which it is subjected.

The lower ends of the arms it simply bear upon the valve D, and are notsecured thereto, so that the lid J may be thrown back in order to exposethe interior of the casing A and the valve D for cleansing or otherpurposes. The arms it may be attached to the valve instead of to thelid, and a suitable adjustable stop or catch may be provided to preventthe elevation of the lid by children. One arm alone, or more than twoarms, may be employed.

I claim as my invention- 1. The combination of the casing A, adapted toor forming part of the frame of a privy-seat, the selt closing valve D,the hinged lid J and an arm or arms, at, whereby the movement of the lidis transmitted to the valve, and vice versa, as set forth.

2. The combination of the casing A, the pivot-rod a, the valve D, andthe plate 15, carrying a counterbalance-weight, F, as set forth.

3. The combination of the casin g A, the selfclosing valve D, the hingedlid J, and the arm or arms n, unconfined at one end, so as to permit theelevation of the lid J, as specified.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOHN J. GORMAN.

Witnesses ALEXANDER PATTERSON, HARRY SMITH.

